The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-06-11
THE CREOLES OF
LOUISIANA;
Or, "reminiscences of an Old
Acadian.
BY FELIX VOORHEES,.
CHAPTER II.

90 so anu until Ola age uAAtltu HlIl III
toll. The men managed the flocks and
cultivated the ground, and in the plough
ing season the boys followed them. step
by step, goading the work-Oxen. Their
wives and sisters attended to the house
hold work, and spun wool and cotton
which they wOye and manufactured into
stuffs that served to ciothe the whole
family.
The Old people not Overactive and
strong like your old grandmother, ''she
added with a SMILE" together with the
infirm and invalids braided the straw
with which we manufactured hats; 50
you see petiots, we hal no drOnes, no use
loss lOungers in our villages, and every
one lived the better for it.
The land allotted the colony, petiOts,
was divided into two unequal parts, the
larger Of which was set apart as the til
lage ground and then parceiled out a
mOng the families according to the num-
Der of members composing them; and
yet the clashing Of interests resulting
from that community never stirred up,
any contentious among YOUR Acadian
ancestors.
Although poor, they were honest and
labOrious, and they lived cOntcnted with
what little they had without enyying
their neighbors, and how could it be
otherwise? Ii any one was retarded in
his field work by illness or misfortune
his neighbOrs flew TO his assistance, and
it required but a few days work with
their combined efforts to weed his field
and save his crop.
Thus ii was, that melted with such
Noble and generous feelings, the mem-
bers Of the colony seemed to form one
single family, and not community
composed of separate and distinct fami-
lies.
These details are tedious to you, petiOts
and you would rather that | should tell
you stories more amusing and captiya-
ting" mo grandmother" we answered
I'VE feel more and more interested in
your narrative. Speak TO us of Acadia,
your native land, which we already love
for you sake" 'PetiOts," she said, II
love my Acadia, and you will learn to
love it also, when you shall have been
made acquainted with its brave and no
BILE inhabitants. Besides, added she
with sad smile, 1.-THE gloomy and SOM
bre part Of my story remains to be told.
When you shall have listened TO it, You
will then understand why is ii that
| weep. when the membranes of the
past come crOwding in my heart. But
to return-COntiguOus to the village
ground lay the pasture lands, well fen
ced In, and which were known as the
common. In these grounds the cattle OF
the colony were kept, and thus secured
in a safe enclosure, our herds increased
every year. The milk that we had in
abundance was turned into cheese and
butter in quantities sufficient for our
heeds.
Thus you see, petiOts, we lacked none
OF the comforts Of life. and although net
wealthy we We're not in want. as or
wishes We're few and easily satisfied.
PlainnesS and simplicity of manners are
the handspring of happiness, and he
that wishes for what lie may never ac-
quire or possess, must be miserable in
deed and worth Of pity. Alasl that the
simplicity Of cur Acadian manners
should have already degeueratai into